HRH Global Resource Center - Infectious Diseases

Public Health in the Age of Ebola in West Africa

Wed, 15 Oct 2014 23:37:59 +0000

The world is witnessing the unprecedented unfolding of the West African Ebola epidemic. The epidemic could have major ramifications for global public health in ways that no other modern infectious disease has, perhaps including AIDS, and can be viewed as a “Black Swan” event. What we call here a Black Swan (and capitalize it) is an event with the following three attributes. First, it is an outlier, as it lies outside the realm of regular expecta- tions, because nothing in the past can convincingly point to its possibility.

Use of Community Health Workers for Management of Malaria and Pneumonia in Urban and Rural Areas in Eastern Uganda

Thu, 10 Oct 2013 17:23:18 +0000

This study assessed the potential differences between urban and rural areas in the implementation of community case management is implemented for malaria and pneumonia and how community health workers are being used alongside other partners in health care provision. [adapted from introduction]

Final Push for Polio Eradication: Addressing the Challenge of Violence in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria

Wed, 09 Oct 2013 17:06:33 +0000

The authors explore the different contexts of violence against polio vaccination workers and make policy proposals on how to respond to attacks on vaccination workers and to other factors that are impeding the final push for polio eradication. [adapted from author]

Why We Must Provide Better Support for Pakistan's Female Frontline Health Workers

Wed, 09 Oct 2013 16:58:43 +0000

This article summarizes the key role that lady health workers play in polio eradication; outlines the problems faced by these workers such as the risk to their lives through shootings and bombings, the lack of a living wage and dearth of advancement opportunities; and offers suggestions to improve the situation.

Evaluation of the Global Network of Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programmes: A Resource for Improving Health Capacity and Increasing the Number of Public Health Professionals Worldwide

Mon, 23 Sep 2013 16:56:57 +0000

This study surveyed field epidemiology training program that are members of the a globally applied epidemiology network to determine progress toward increasing public health capacity for health professionals trained in controlling infectious epidemics globally. [adapted from author]

Human Resource Development and Capacity-Building During China's Rapid Scale-Up of Methadone Maintenance Treatment Services

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 17:26:13 +0000

The purpose of this article is to review human resource development and capacity-building efforts within China’s National Methadone Maintenance Treatment Programme, illustrate changes in program performance metrics over time, and convey lessons that will provide guidance to other developing countries attempting to implement similar programs. [from author]

Human Resources for Health: Practice and Policy Implications for Emergency Response Arising from the Cholera Outbreak in Papua New Guinea

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:15:44 +0000

This document describes some of the challenges to cholera preparedness and response in a human resource limited setting, the strategies used to ensure effective cholera management, some lessons learned as well as issues for public health policy and practice. [from summary]

Successful Polio Eradication in Uttar Pradesh, India: The Pivotal Contribution of the Social Mobilization Network, an NGO/UNICEF Collaboration

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:26:52 +0000

This article reports on a successful partnership to improve access and reduce family and community resistance to polio vaccination in India. The partners trained thousands of mobilizers from high-risk communities to visit households, promote government-run child immunization services, track children’s immunization history and encourage vaccination of children missing scheduled vaccinations, and mobilize local opinion leaders. [adapted from author]

Voices from the Field: Perspectives from Community Health Workers on Health Care Delivery in Rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:56:06 +0000

As the primary link between the formal health care sector and the household level in South Africa, community health workers (CHWs) provide a critical perspective on barriers
that exist in rural health care delivery. The results of this study suggest that CHWs recognize the need for HIV/AIDS- and TB-related interventions but are unable to provide a response commensurate to this need. [from abstract]

Treating Childhood Pneumonia in Hard-to-Reach Areas: A Model-Based Comparison on Mobile Clinics and Community-Based Care

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:38:37 +0000

This paper uses a decision mathematical model to estimate the relative effectiveness of two alternative strategies, mobile clinics and fixed community-based health services, for antibiotic treatment of childhood pneumonia, the world’s leading cause of child mortality. [from abstract]